The concept of professional football is not new to us as Yemenis. We have witnessed the rise of Yemeni stars like the stardom of Ali Al-Nono, who excelled across Arab football stadiums, particularly in Sudan, where he was the top striker for Sudan’s Al-Merrikh SC. We’ve also heard much about the legendary Ali Mohsen Al-Muraisi, whose name was engraved in golden letters in the history of Egyptian football during the 1960s after achieving several accomplishments and successes with Egypt’s Zamalek SC. Presently, players like Abdulwasea Al-Matari, who won the Omani League title with Al-Nahda club, and Nasser Mohammedouh, who achieved success with Iraq’s Al-Shorta club by winning the Iraqi League title, continue this legacy.
In recent times, many Yemeni football players have turned towards Gulf and Arab leagues to pursue professional experiences abroad. However, according to sports analysts closely following Yemeni football, many of these players have not found success in their professional endeavors. They often end up on the bench or have their contracts terminated prematurely, sometimes even before the end of the season.
“In football, a player must participate in at least 55 official matches per season to achieve the necessary physical readiness. Unfortunately, in Yemen, players are unable to play even half of this number of matches due to the lack of local competitions.”
Between Street Football and Professionalism
Sports experts believe that the current circumstances in the country have negatively impacted the overall state of Yemeni sports, particularly affecting the technical skills of the players. Consequently, this decline has, in turn, led to a noticeable drop in their performance on the field.
In this context, sports journalist Modhad Al-Ba’dani explains that the cessation of football activities and the irregularity of the national football league schedule have significantly affected the technical level of Yemeni football players. In an exclusive statement to "Khuyut," Al-Ba’dani notes that it is unreasonable to expect a player who practices football on neighborhood streets to excel in professional leagues.
Al-Ba’dani also points out that there is a shortcoming on the part of the Yemeni Football Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports in organizing regular local leagues, stressing the need for their return to provide players with opportunities to showcase their true potential.
In turn, the national coach Mahmoud Obeid states that the conditions Yemen is facing due to the war have affected the overall level of sports. He also highlights other factors that have hindered players from practicing football in the manner required for their development.
In an exclusive statement to "Khuyut," coach Mahmoud comments, "The Yemeni players lack both physical and technical readiness," emphasizing that this aspect is crucial for reaching the level of a professional player's performance.
He continues by emphasizing, "In football, a player must participate in at least 55 official matches per season to achieve the necessary physical readiness. Unfortunately, in Yemen, players are unable to play even half of that number of matches due to the lack of local competitions. For this reason, the capabilities of our players do not manifest when they pursue professional opportunities abroad."
Captain Mahmoud further remarks, stating, "The Yemeni player is currently seen as a hard-working player who puts in his utmost effort. Unfortunately, this reflects the harsh reality of the current state of Yemeni football. I do not view what our players achieve during their professional careers abroad as a failure."
He concludes by saying, "Our players are naturally talented, as evidenced by the performance of our youth national team. However, in Yemen, we need a proper football environment and highly skilled, experienced coaches to nurture and develop Yemeni talents progressively through the age groups, ultimately leading to a strong national team."
“Yemeni players lack a professional mindset, as Yemen is among the countries that produce the fewest football stars, despite having raw talents. Nevertheless, this is primarily due to the absence of a regular league, as well as the lack of leagues that cater to various age groups and the absence of dedicated sports academies.”
Lack of Planning and Vision
For his part, the sports journalist Wa’ad Aman believes that Yemeni football players are now seeking to fill the void left by the cessation of football activities in the country.
In an exclusive statement to "Khuyut," journalist Wa’ad Aman explains, "The reason behind the failure or lack of success of Yemeni players in securing professional opportunities abroad is the lack of experience, as well as the absence of proper planning and a clear vision that would allow players to set and pursue their goals."
Journalist Wa’ad adds: "Yemeni players often sign professional contracts without conducting the necessary study or planning to develop their technical abilities and skills, which would enable them to prove themselves and secure their place in the main formation of the team, instead of ending up sitting on the bench."
He points out that "Yemeni players lack a professional mindset and thinking, as Yemen is among the countries that produce the fewest football stars, despite having raw talents. This is primarily due to the absence of a regular league, as well as the lack of leagues that cater to various age groups and the absence of dedicated sports academies.
Aman further explains that "the failure of Yemeni players abroad could also be attributed to their inability to adapt to the conditions and systems of other countries and to live away from their families in foreign lands. However, this is the nature of professionalism—it requires effort, diligence, and self-development."
He also adds, "We hope that our players adhere to training and discipline, and work on improving their technical skills by taking advantage of the opportunity to play in stronger leagues compared to Yemeni football. We also wish for a breakthrough in Yemeni football professionalism, leading to a shift in how our players perceive football professionalism, so that the Yemeni player becomes a true professional, rather than a nominal one, as is often the case now."
Aman concludes by emphasizing that securing professional contracts abroad for Yemeni players is the most effective strategy and the best solution for advancing and developing Yemeni football and the national team, especially in light of the decline witnessed by Yemeni football in recent years due to the country’s current circumstances.
“The current economic situation in the country may drive Yemeni players to sign professional contracts solely in search of financial returns, often without considering other important aspects, such as improving their technical skills or focusing on self-development and talent enhancement.”
The Pursuit of Financial Gain Alone
The worsening economic and humanitarian crisis has exacerbated the suffering of citizens, including football players in Yemen. Critics and sports journalists believe that seeking professional opportunities abroad has become the optimal way for players to confront the economic challenges and hardships they face.
In this regard, sports writer and critic Fadl Al-Juna states: "Many Yemeni players have gone through professional experiences abroad during a difficult period for Yemeni football, largely due to the irregularity of local competitions." He points out that this situation has negatively impacted the players' technical performance, as their professional experiences did not meet the required standards.
Al-Juna adds, in an exclusive statement to "Khuyut," "Football players are an integral part of Yemeni society and also face difficult economic and living conditions." He points out that the current economic situation in the country may drive Yemeni players to sign professional contracts solely in pursuit of financial returns, often without considering other important aspects, such as improving their technical performance or focusing on self-development and skill enhancement.
He concludes by stating, "We hope for the success of our professional players in foreign leagues, as their achievements are crucial and will yield positive benefits for Yemeni sports and the national team."
